I was introduced into this world on the eve of my mother’s death. Through the many stories of my father, I learned what I could about the woman I loved but would never know. She was called Sakura after the season of the cherry blossoms. She was a petite, delicate woman of pale skin. In her joy and happiness, she would turn the gentle pink of the flowers of the season. My father was named Homura after the blaze one would see during his anger if it ever showed.
They fell in love when they met during the labor of the wheat fields. My father says the male and females worked the opposite sides of the field. When he saw her for the first time, he says he knew from a fire in his belly that this woman would someday be his bride. According to him my mother did not feel the same immediately but through his gifts she was warmed to his proposal. As they worked in those fields of wheat not a word could be said but many of the workers sang songs upon the breeze as a way to pass the time. Materials used were left in the field at the end of each day’s work. So, my father would arrive to the fields early each day to leave a gift with her tools, whether it be a treat, a book, or a gem. With every gift that he left he would leave a sweet cherry blossom from the season with it. The first day he watched her as she picked up the parchment wrapped object that said her name. She looked around the fields to see who had left such a gift and when she met his eyes he waved. When she opened his gift, it brought a beautiful pink glow to the skin on her cheeks. It was a simple parchment that contained a short story of love in their native tongue. When she finished reading it, she raised her head and returned his wave. Then they continued working. He watched her each day as she received her gifts with a wave and eventually her blushes transformed to smiles. As a young man of twenty he did not have much patience. He begins with the parchment and the first flower on the first eve of Hanami when the cherry blossoms graced the world with their blooming presence. On the final when the season was at its end and the blossoms no longer kiss the sky but now kissed the dirt. He left her a gift like none other he had given before and with it he left a question. After weeks of leaving different parchments and desserts that he watched her enjoy. He decided he wanted her to have no one other than himself. This was always his favorite part of the story to tell. He watched her standing there and waited for the smile that would usually grace her face as she opened the present. Instead, he saw that pale pink glow fade from her face and saw her hands move out of sight. He bowed his head at what he thought of as her rejection and as he began to turn away, he heard the most beautiful sound. His head snapped up at the sound of twinkling bells ringing in joyous harmony upon the breeze. As he looked at the woman, he wanted for his bride she raised her hand in the air to show she now wore his ring. From across the field through the breeze that brought the sweet smell of the fleeting nature of life she spoke the first words ever said between them. “Shi de” (Yes) That day my parents gathered their payments from working in the fields of wheat and began to make the long journey to what would be my birthplace in Kyoto, Japan. After the journey of days and nights they fell in love with the temple Kiyomizu-Dera that was surrounded by the trees that birthed the blossoms which had come to mean so much. It was at the site of that three-story Buddhist temple that my father Homura learned of the blossom in the womb of Sakura. They found work in the paddy fields that lay in the distance of the temple as they awaited the birth of me. They were married in those fields by a priest who often visited. During their work they talked and shared the stories of old from when they were young. It was here in those patty fields they bonded between being two lost souls in the world with no other living family. The two became their own family as they waited for their new addition. The day of my birth was the eve before Hanami of the next year. The bulbs of the cherry blossoms again graced the trees but had yet to greet the world. My mother lay in a cave that opened to a view of the paddy fields in which they often worked. When she discovered that I would soon greet the day she made it to the cave calling for my father to follow. He braced her against a boulder that adorned the wall of the cave and held her hand as he spoke of her strength and his love. He held her as she pushed and gave her great comfort from the pain. As part of a distraction during a beat in time she told my father that should it be a boy they would name him Kaito after the ocean where they once lived. If it were a girl, her name would be Io after the Indian Ocean. After a few more pushes I met my parents for the first time in a screaming fury of a cry. My father says I was as red as a flame with hair as dark as night like my mother. They felt extreme joy in the moment and kissed as thanks to each other for the family they thought they would not have again. My father decided they should return to their hut, so he left my mother for a few moments to get help to get her home. He had no idea that when he returned, he would never see that beautiful pink glow of a cherry blossom grace my mother’s face again. He did not know that he would not again hear the tinkling laughter of bells. He did not know that he was coming back to the cave to get his wife, but it would be for burial. His sorrow was so great that he could never tell the story of what he discovered when he got back to the cave or the journey of leaving it. The only memory he shared was that upon walking to the hut as he carried me, he saw the blooms of Hanami begin to open as a final goodbye from Sakura. And so, with the end of the love of his life he was given a token to show how that love would never end. It was a love that he hopes someday I will experience for myself.The walk to her home was brief. On it we discussed some of our favorite things that we had read. When she told me that she had never read an actually book but only pieces of parchment given to her by her father, I had to give her a look of incredulity. Most of the people in my village bought books so often that I had never known there were those who could not afford it. After finding this out I was curious to know more about the differences of our villages that were only separated by a hill. So, I asked. “What would you say is a different custom that happens in your village from what you observed today.” As she pondered the question she explained “Well, I found it odd today that I didn’t see those at the celebration offering an embrace or even anyone holding hands. We see affection so often here that I thought it was normal.” At this I had to laugh. In my mind I could not fathom the image of others walking around in our village doing public displays of affection. “So, i
The time of waiting for those two days seemed like an eternity. The parts of the day where I worked in the paddy fields were unable to distract my mind for once. I normally found the art of gathering husk of rice to be calming and a mindless action. At this time in March, we are still in the process of sowing our fields. The paddy fields must all be leveled before we began planting in a week’s time. This requires the men to use large rolling pins to make repeated paths across the land until it is all at the same depth. My job with the women consists of digging up small stones and other foreign objects that could impede the growth of the rice. As for the sections that are done being leveled, we must begin to flood them by carrying large basins of water to it from the river. This is a task that sometimes the men help with. As I stand in the field having poured my last basin of water into my section for the day, I take a look at the sun. It is almost high in the center of the sk
My heart races in my chest so loudly that it is a pounding my ears. I can feel my blood rushing underneath my skin as my body heats. The skin of my groin is stretched tight and even though my robes are loose from her tugging they suddenly feel like too much. As I take a deep breath, I run a hand through my hair to try to contain myself. “Io” I breath out her name. She slowly opens her eyes and bites her bottom lip. I feel myself harden further. As the air pauses, I remember her innocence. “Are you alright” I ask. As she blushes and looks away, I reach out a hand to turn her face back to mine but with hesitation I drop it back to my side. After a moment she meets my gaze again and nods softly. I clear the heat in my throat and lean back toward her. I look at her and notice a shine to her eyes that I have never seen before. Her hair has all been swept toward her back and tucked neatly behind her ears. There is a sheen of pink on her normally pale skin and the pink of her lips have d
As I enter our hut, I rush to our bathing room to ready for supper. I realize how hungry I am as I was my hands and face as I have not eaten since morning. A part of me wishes that I could avoid sharing a meal with my father because he seems to be in a mood today. I feel as if he acted untoward to Draco today even though they had just met. I know my father is going to want to talk about my day. Specifically, I think the conversation will linger on the kiss I shared with Draco outside. I feel my cheeks heat at the small taste of him still on the tip of my tongue. Father looked so displeased. I am at a woman’s age. I have seen many of the others in my village kiss when being wooed. I have not the faintest idea in my mind to why my father would look at us in contempt for completing such an act. He should be happy for me that I have found someone. I decide that I may as well get the conversation over with. I take a deep breath and exit my room. When I enter the dining room, he ha
When I return home, it is dark. As I look out my window at the stable, I see no horses. My mother has not returned. Food has been left on my bed by one of the servants. I sit down to eat. As I lift the lid I see smoked chicken, rice, and peas. It is still warm to the touch, and I am famished. I clear my plate quickly. As I pass by my wardrobe, I see that a servant has already been in to pack my bags for the trip tomorrow. I sigh. This is the generals silent command when we are to leave for a journey at daybreak. I know I need to get some sleep. As I lay on my kang so many thoughts run through my mind. I hope my mother returns in time for the trip so that it is not just me and the general. That would be a journey more dreadful than just going to meet my future bride. The thought has my emotions easily flip to anger. I do not want this. I will not label her as my bride. She will just be a girl that I meet tomorrow. A part of me hopes that things go bad, and my parents reth
As I follow Shee out into the hall I take another look at her figure now that she is standing. She is much shorter than I thought. Where the top of Io’s head reaches my shoulder, hers would barely come up to my chest. She has a very curvy figure and walks with a wide gate. As she takes a turn, I see an exit ahead that must lead to the outside of the grounds. She picks up her pace and I take longer strides to keep up. I find it odd that she is supposed to be giving me a tour and yet she has said nothing. As we round her hut I look around. The ground has been leveled into a path lined with rocks. On either side there are rows of pink peonies and lotus. The fragrance is soothing and appealing. As we walk a bit further down that path, I see servants tending horses in their stables. She heads in that direction as I follow. When we reach the stables, she finally speaks. “You are dismissed I wish to speak privately” she commands. Her voice is thick and breathy. As the servants leave
I wake slowly as the sun shines through my window. I stretch the soreness from yesterday’s demanding work out of my body. I stayed later than midday so I would receive my payment early and not have to work today. I wanted to look special for Draco so I decided it would be helpful if I had more time. I rise from my kang to head into the bathing room to prepare for my day. I plan to head into the village and buy a new dress today. It has been a long while since I bought something new to wear. I want it to look nice for Draco on our first day of courting. As I comb my hair, I hear my father in the other room moving around. He must be getting himself ready for his day of work in the fields. After the conversation that we had the day before yesterday we have not spoken. He knows today that I am going to see Draco. I want to avoid him because I know he will have more to say. When I am through untangling my hair, I carefully twist it into a bun. Satisfied that it will stay in pl
I rise from the bed when the sun streams in. I rub my eyes and yawn so big my jaw cracks. I slept terribly. I am ready to just get this day over. I quickly dress and leave the room I have been assigned. The house is still. I believe I am the first one to wake. I take quiet steps down the stairs and head toward the exit I took with Shee last evening. Once outside I take a deep breath of the morning air. There are a few servants moving about. Today feels odd. I had awoken so happy the last few days because I knew that I would see her soon. I dread today. Yesterday’s confusion will have our parents pushing us together. On one side I will be forced to spend time with her as if we are courting. On the other hand, we could use the time to strategically plan what we can do about our impending nuptials. How can I be happy with either of my choices today when I know Io will just be waiting for me. I wonder how long she will wait until she realizes I will not show. There is a throat cl
I have experienced a lot in the twenty-five years I have had on this earth. Everyone knows the day I was born. They know where I lived and what I looked like. My adoptive parents were visited for years so others could ask questions about me. Everyone in the world was curious about the baby girl who hatched out of an egg filmed live to the world. People knew my name but because most didn't talk to me directly, I was alone.On the night I was born the world was in a state of shock when so many children hatched from eggs all across the world. We were all different shapes and sizes. What made us stand out from the rest were the unique features that we had. For some of us it was the startling beauty of our eyes. For others was their size or abilities that could be seen right away. The thing that made me stand out was my hair. It was a deep coal black with unnatural red streaks.A week before my sixth birthday my whole life changed. The home of my adoptive parents caught fire. Somehow I was
As I come out of my memories from the past I find that I am still confused. I have more than paid my dues for the death of the boy that I love. The day I visited his mother at their estate I can still hardly remember after all this time. I remember telling her about the child as I fought the waves that had surrounded me in a deafening wave. The rest of that night as well as many nights are a blur to me now. “What am I supposed to do Draco? I do not know what your mother wants from me. I just want to rest and for this torment to end. I am so tired” I plead in the night to the statue of the boy I love. When I awoke the next morning after visiting his mother, I was in the middle of no where far from home. I laid naked in a field in extreme pain and disoriented. When I rose to stand I put my hands on my stomach only to find it flat. I cried as I realized that somehow I had lost my child. I wanted to return home, but I had no direction to where my home was. I remember walking for day
Ahead on the slowly inclining slope we here a voice raised in the air. As we take a pause listening the night goes quiet. The guards signal us with a raised fist in the air to hold our positions. After a few seconds, their hands lower and we take a few steps. “Somebody please. Somebody please help me. Oh god, please. Please help me” Someone screams. The old man must know the scream because once he hears it he begins to run up the slope faster than I have seen someone his age move. The guards quickly rush after him with Santo-San behind him as they go. As we hear the cave I can hear a girl crying and as we reach the caves entrance a horrible scream pierces the air. With the guards at the ready in front of us there is a pause at the entrance of the cave in the dim light. To my left a lantern barely flickers. As I approach the men in front of me to see what has them so captured. I see the girl holding something. As I my eye adjust from the moonlight to the dim light of the cave I r
The day four weeks ago still stays on repeat in my head. I have sat in his room since surrounded by all his things. In the evenings I sit in the sitting room and replay our conversations by the fire. I have cried at the pain I feel all this time. My boy is gone, and I have no one to blame for him leaving but myself. I have not spoken to anyone since that day. I live in the memories of my son. That day when Draco pushed me away after he found out the truth I had remained seated in my pride. I was hurt that he would speak to me, the woman who birthed him, in such a way. Normally, when he is hurt he runs to his tree to have some time to himself. I thought that he would go there to think and to get over what he had heard. As his ma I should have known that this time would be different. I had dismissed my lady maid as soon as Draco left the room so I could have time to think to myself. For a few moments I felt guilty at what I had done. That feeling was however fleeting and I soon ro
I have so many things running through my mind at the moment that I do not know how to feel. My world was rocked on its axis when I found out about his engagement. Now he has told me that the entire time he has been fighting against it, but his mother had her own agenda. For the moment, my anger breaks, and tears spring to my eyes. What could I have done to deserve such a fate? Why did it take him so long to come to me? I cant voice any of these questions as deep sobs are being wrenched from my throat at the pain I feel. I thought I had lost him. I never knew that something in this world could cause me so much pain. I feel Draco wrap his arms around me as I cry. Seeking comfort to my chaotic emotions I turn into his arms. I use him as my piece of solace as I try to let go of the pain. We sit down as he hums our song trying to soothe me further. Soon my tears dry up and all I sense is quiet. My heart is no longer kissing in my chest. For days I felt like my world was ending.
So many things in life can just never go the way that you want them to. It does not matter if you have been good person or how hard you tried. So many calls the events of life that happen with no regard fate. Well, if this is fate then I do not want any part of it. I want nothing more than to go against fate and go after what I want. I just do not have what it takes to hurt people. All I want in this life is love and even that has been denied to me. As I lay on my kang and ponder the way the world revolves I am filled with a sad melancholy of what has become my life. Today is my wedding day. I always imagined that on this day I would be filled with excitement to be pledging my life to another for eternity. It is sad to say but in this moment, I feel nothing. For the last view days, I have found that I am unable to dredge up any emotion. I am just being the good boy who listens and follows directions. Without her this is what my life has become. She left without a word. Just one sm
When Draco leaves the room with his father I begin to fidget in my seat. His mother stares at me from across the room. She looks almost regal sitting there. Her brown hair is in a long braid drifting to the side and nearly touching the floor. Her kimono is made from the finest silk and when she moves it shimmers like water. She is a woman of true beauty. She has a symmetrical face with high cheek bones. As she sits there staring I can feel myself trimmer in my seat. The air is tight, and I feel as if I am caught in a tough wave. In the tense silence I clear my throat ready to speak. “I.. I feel as if I have angered you and that was not my intention. I am here because I love Draco and wish to marry him” I stammer. At my statement she purses her lips into a thin line. I can immediately tell she does not care about my intentions for her son. I really wish Draco were here. I do not know how to get through to her. “I will speak plainly girl so hear me well. You are not fit to marry
Everything has to be perfect today. I find myself in such a giddy mood I know that it is affecting everyone in my home. Today Io will be coming for dinner to meet my parents. I have had the servants pick flowers from my mother’s gardens and set them around the house to give it a sweet aroma. I also had the chef prepare some of the smoked meats with rice and vegetables. For dessert we will be having a variety of mochi sweets. As I look at the position of the sun outside the window my stomach churns with nervous energy that she will be arriving any moment. I head to the dining room to check on the placements and ensure everything is ready. When I am satisfied with what is done I see my parents coming down the stairs in matching kimonos. They have decided to wear the kimonos that symbolized the water that my mother uses to heal. Both of them are draped with lines of gold to show our wealth. I chose to wear a simple dark blue kimono with the family crest in gold over my right pectoral
My breath is coming fast from my lungs. I can feel the stretch of my womanhood around his member. Draco lies still above me. His eyes are closed, and his cool breath hits my face. When he opens his eyes I can see the love in his gaze. I squirm against the amount of heat the look gives me. His breath hitches at my movements. “I’m sorry Io” he says. Then he kisses me hard. His lips tug against mine in smooth motion. When he takes my bottom lip in between his teeth he pushes further into me. Pain. In this instant that is all I feel. I cry into his kiss as he rubs his lips against mine. I break the kiss as I feel tears slowly leak from my eyes. I can hear Draco apologizing as he rubs his fingers through my hair and kisses the tears that fall upon my cheeks. “Breathe my love. Just breathe” he soothes. I take a deep breath in a rush to fill my lungs. As I try to breathe through the pain my legs rub against the outside of his in an attempt to relieve the ache I feel between my le